Dwight R Westman
Apr 21, 1941 — Jul 11, 2026
Dwight Russell Westman, 85, of Cavalier, North Dakota, passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday, July, 11, 2026. Memorial service Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at the Teien Covenant Church, rural Drayton. Visitation will be held for one hour before the time of the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, consider giving to your local public school music programs, whether it be monetary or instrument donation, in honor of Dwight's lifelong love and support of music education.
Dwight was born on April 21, 1941, in Drayton, North Dakota, to Ruth (Nelson) Westman and J. Russell Westman. He was raised on the family farm near Stephen, Minnesota. Dwight graduated from Stephen High School before earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education from the University of Minnesota, Duluth. Over the years, he wore many hats. He was a band director, choir director, school principal, U.S. Border Patrol officer, business owner, piano tuner; and, every fall, could be found back home driving truck during sugar beet harvest.
His happiest hours were spent in a fishing boat with a line in the water. When he wasn't on the lake, you could likely find him in his recliner enjoying Bitchin' Rides, Pawn Stars, or American Pickers.
He was a man who appreciated routine, especially his Saturday morning phone calls with his lifelong best friend, Paul Vogt. For nearly 60 years they never missed a week. When Paul called on July 11th and Dwight didn't answer for the first time, he knew his old friend had quietly cast his final line.
Life threw Dwight more than his share of challenges. As a child, he overcame St. Vitus Dance. Later, despite rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, heart attacks, and open-heart surgery, he refused to let any diagnosis keep him down. Many called him a "tough old Swede." He proudly embraced that title—even after an Ancestry DNA test revealed he wasn't quite as Swedish as he'd always claimed. With his trademark humor, Dwight concluded there had been "a lot of hanky-panky going on with his forefathers," but he remained Swedish at heart until his final day.
Dwight was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, David; his sister, Shirley; his son, Brian; and his late wife, Sherry.
He is remembered by his wife, Jean; his sister, Sharon; his children: Steve (Katrina), Susan (Jason), Andrea (Todd), and Brad (Ellie); his stepchildren: Paulette (John) and David (Janelle); his grandchildren: Mace (Regan), Annika, Julia, Clare, Andrew, Christina, and Taylor; his great-grandson, Asher; along with many extended family members, friends, former colleagues, fishing companions who will miss him, his dry wit, and uncanny ability to believe that, no matter how long the wait, the fish were always about to bite.
Apr 21, 1941 — Jul 11, 2026
Dwight Russell Westman, 85, of Cavalier, North Dakota, passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday, July, 11, 2026. Memorial service Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at the Teien Covenant Church, rural Drayton. Visitation will be held for one hour before the time of the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, consider giving to your local public school music programs, whether it be monetary or instrument donation, in honor of Dwight's lifelong love and support of music education.
Dwight was born on April 21, 1941, in Drayton, North Dakota, to Ruth (Nelson) Westman and J. Russell Westman. He was raised on the family farm near Stephen, Minnesota. Dwight graduated from Stephen High School before earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education from the University of Minnesota, Duluth. Over the years, he wore many hats. He was a band director, choir director, school principal, U.S. Border Patrol officer, business owner, piano tuner; and, every fall, could be found back home driving truck during sugar beet harvest.
His happiest hours were spent in a fishing boat with a line in the water. When he wasn't on the lake, you could likely find him in his recliner enjoying Bitchin' Rides, Pawn Stars, or American Pickers.
He was a man who appreciated routine, especially his Saturday morning phone calls with his lifelong best friend, Paul Vogt. For nearly 60 years they never missed a week. When Paul called on July 11th and Dwight didn't answer for the first time, he knew his old friend had quietly cast his final line.
Life threw Dwight more than his share of challenges. As a child, he overcame St. Vitus Dance. Later, despite rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, heart attacks, and open-heart surgery, he refused to let any diagnosis keep him down. Many called him a "tough old Swede." He proudly embraced that title—even after an Ancestry DNA test revealed he wasn't quite as Swedish as he'd always claimed. With his trademark humor, Dwight concluded there had been "a lot of hanky-panky going on with his forefathers," but he remained Swedish at heart until his final day.
Dwight was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, David; his sister, Shirley; his son, Brian; and his late wife, Sherry.
He is remembered by his wife, Jean; his sister, Sharon; his children: Steve (Katrina), Susan (Jason), Andrea (Todd), and Brad (Ellie); his stepchildren: Paulette (John) and David (Janelle); his grandchildren: Mace (Regan), Annika, Julia, Clare, Andrew, Christina, and Taylor; his great-grandson, Asher; along with many extended family members, friends, former colleagues, fishing companions who will miss him, his dry wit, and uncanny ability to believe that, no matter how long the wait, the fish were always about to bite.